Redoble Family

Sitting on my table and windows opened wide, in this hot mid afternoon of the roman hills in Morlupo, Rome (Italy), memories of the recent past came to mind … it was hot as this one, 35 degrees centigrade, people crowding, streets filling, distant sounds of drums and trumpets arising … there was joy in the air, laughter fading by the high volume  music of discs playing from side roads bargains.  It was fiesta time in Moalboal! And it was fiesta none like other … the fever of festival arrived in town. It is Kagasangan Festival!

There were four groups from the different zones of the town.  For months they honed the repertoire, their steps, their dances, their bests.  There were nights too long for them as they practiced on and on, with the shrieking command of the directors.  they were waiting for the day of reckoning: May15, 2009.

It started just on time … I too was  on the street waiting for the street dancers … camera ready to point and shot!  Alas they came … feet trumping the hot road, the sun too hot to bear, the sweat sprinkling … and yet, they danced their best … it was a sight for me.  Never did Moalboal experienced like this one … oh yes, there was: the sing-out dances of the students (all of us, of course, in that era) of San Juan High School through the command of the Fr. Pacquing Silva, the rector, to welcome guests coming from all over … yet, it was not  street dancing!  It was field demonstration!

That day, there was fiesta on the air and people welcomed the dancers as if it was the first time for them to see it; after all, every night they crowded the church’s grounds to witness the practice of the different groups until the eve of the contest itself … and they were glad.  People from all over, took their seats as early as 7:00AM that day, I was told, to have the best view of the contest.

I did not brave the hot afternoon to witness the whole event … I instead settled for a chat and a drink of cold beer at the back of the municipal building … at 7:00PM, the day ended with a bang! Yes, with fireworks .. It was a way to end the day, but also to augur that the next year will bring more festivals like this one, even if the coffers win will just be a fraction of the total costs of production.  Moalboal is not anymore a sleepy town, I am sure, it showed its best foot forward .. and the festival proves it well!

(For Photos on the Festival go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/elboder0112/KAGASANGANFESTIVAL/)

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